Workpiece support



Sept. 10, 1963 R. H. MusToNl-:N ETAL WORKPIECE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 3, 1959 SSheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Sept.. 10, 1963 R. Hi MUSTONEN ETAL 3,103,145

WORKPIECE SUPPORT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 3, 1959 Sept, 10, 1963 R. H. MUsToNEN ETAL 3,103,145

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woRKPIEcE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 5, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 4.7 Toa/ver Sept'. 10, 1963 R, H, MUSTONEN ETAL 3,103,145

WORKPIECE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 3. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,103,145 WORKIIECE SUPPORT Reino H. Mustonen, Wixom, Robert E. Heintz, Royal Oak, and Donald W. Jones, Mount Clemens, Mich., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 837,851 11 Claims. (Cl. 9th-13) This invention relates to improvements in workpiece Supports adapted, although not exclusively, for use with reproducing apparatus.

Generally, reproducing apparatus employs a table or the equivalent of a size adequate to accommodate the largest master draft for which the apparatus is designed. Necessarily, the draft table will be of a relatively large size, and therefore, when small drafts as well as small drawings are to be traced, it is advantageous if the small drawing can be positioned anywhere on the draft table. This permits several such small drawings to be simultaneously attached to the draft table so that the interruption of one tracing operation for another does not require interchanging of the drafts. For this feature to be possible, the apparatus usually in some way must be adjusted for the change of position of the draft on the table. To do this requires major adjustments between the tracer mechanism and the copying tool and involves expensive and complex structures. Also, it is desirable to position the draft first and then align the workpiece in accordance with the line to be traced.

The invention, therefore, contemplates apparatus of the preceding character that is suited for copying master draftsV attached to any part of a draft table. More particularly, the invention affords an adjustable workpiece support that permits the workpiece to he positioned through a unique aligning arrangement on any part thereof so as to correspond to the `disposition of the master draft on the `draft table. Additionally, by the arrangement, the disposition of the tool support relative to the workpiece affords further support for the workpiece.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a reproducing apparatus employed for demonstrating the invention;

FIGURES 2 and 3` are front and side views, respectively, of a workpiece` support incorporating the principles of the invention;

FIGURES 4 and 4a are sectional views of the workpiece support taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

-FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the workpiece support taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a View of a clamp for the workpiece support looking in the direction of arrows 6-6 in FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a double clamp for the workpiece support taken along line 7-7 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is a View of the double clamp looking in the direction of arrows 8--8 in FIGURE 7.

Referring to FIGURE l in detail, the reproducing apparatus depicted has horizontal guideways 10 suitably supported on a base (not shown) or the equivalent. A table 12 is adapted to slide along the horizontal guideways 10` and has formed integral therewith, or fixedly positioned thereon, an upright stand 14. The upright stand 14 cooperates with the table 12 to maintain vertical guideways 16 properly aligned so as to permit vertical up and down movement of a tool support 18 slidably joined to the vertical guideways 16. The tool support 18 has mounted thereon a tool drive motor 20 that through a a belt 22 revolves a spindle 24 to which a copying or cutting tool 26 is secured adjacent a workpiece or template 23.

To maneuver the cutting tool 26 relative to the workpiece 28, two similar drive trains are employed, one a horizontal drive train denoted generally at 50 and the other a vertical drive train shown at 52. The horizontal drive train 59 includes a drive motor 54, a gear box 5.6, and a drive screw 58, whereas the vertical drive train 52 consists of a drive motor 60, a gear box 62, and a drive screw 64. Drive in each train proceeds from the respective drive motor through the gear box and to the drive screw. Each gear box is appropriately arranged to provide the required drive direction change at a desired drive ratio, which may be altered if wanted. From the drive screws 58 and 64 the rotation thereof is transferred in any suitable way, e.g., stationary nuts (not shown) attached both to the table 12 and the tool support 18. Hence, with only the horizontal -drive train 50 effective, the cutting tool 26 will be moved in a horizontal plane corresponding to that of the table 12. Similarly, with only the vertical drive train 52 effective, movement of the cutting tool 26 coincides with the movement of the tool support 18` along the guideway 16.

On the side of the apparatus opposite the workpiece 2S, a master draft table 132 is pivotally joined to some fixture such as the apparatus base and has attached thereto a master draft 134, which may be a print, drawing, or the equivalent having a contour line as line 136 to be traced. The pivotal movement of the master draft table 132 permits the table to be positioned in a horizontal plane when the master draft 134 is attached. Then the table 132 may be moved to the demonstrated vertical position and locked in place.

Movements of the copying tool 26 by the drive motors S4 and 6i) may be made to reproduce the contour line 136 on the workpiece 28 by a suitable tracing mechanism, e.g., that disclosed in the application S.N. 837,607 to Colten et al. entitled, Reproducing Apparatus, filed September 2, 1959.

.To permit the master draft 134 to be installed` on any part of the draft table 132, it is necessary that a suitable holder be furnished for the FIGURE l workpiece 28 suchthat the workpiece 28 may also beV placed in a corresponding part of the holder. This is because it is usually necessary to trace in an area of the draft table 132 that Will coincide with the corresponding` section of the workpiece 28. Also, it is preferred that the draft'134 be positioned on the table 132, and then the workpiece 28 -be located to suit the line to lbe traced. The workpiece support denoted generally at 441 effects this and includes a frame 442displayed in FIGURES 2 and 3. As viewed in FIGURE 2 the frame 442 has the upper and lower horizontal guideways 444 and 446 and left and right vertical guideways 443 and 450, all of proper construction, eg., of tubular shape as the guideway 450 illustrated in FIGURE 5. The left and right vertical guideways 443 and 450 afford guide tracks both for an upper horizontal column 452 that has left and right end guide sleeves 454 and 456 embracing the vertical guideways 448` and 45t)` and a lower horizontal column 458 likewise provided with left and` right end guide sleeves 460 and 462 slidably disposed on the left and right vertical guideways 448 and 450. The horizontal guideways 444 and 446 support both a left Vertical column 464 through upper and lower end guide sleeves 466 and 468 and a` right vertical column 470 through upper and lower end guide sleeves 472 and 474.

The opposite ends rof each of the horizontal columns 452 and 45S are fixed with respect to their respective guideways by vertical guideway clamps '476. One such clamp is depicted in FIGURES 15 and 6 and employs a 3 wedge 478 that lits through an opening in the end guide sleeve 462 so as to engage the surface of right vertical guidew-ay 450. The wedge 478 is pivotally joined to one end of a lever 480, the opposite being pivoted at 482 to the sleeve 462. The lever 480l is actuated by 'a cam surlace 484 on .a handle 486 pivoted at 488 on a stud 491) axed to the sleeve 462. Consequently7 :as the handle 486 `is pivoted, the lever 480 is maneuvered so that the wedge 478 is moved i-nto and out of wedging engagement with the -guideway 450. The configuration of the cam surface 484 is formed so as to be self-locking, i.e., when the handle 486 is in the locked position and is relieved of manual restraint, the cam surface 484 will maintain the wedge 478 in engagement with `guideway 450. As now can be seen, in the locked position of the handle 486, a clamp action on the guideway 450l occurs between the wedge 478 andthe sleeve 462, the action being in elect similar to that of a vise.

Referring to FIGURES 2, 4, rand 4a, a horizontal guideway clamp i492 is employed to lock the right vertical column 470 to both the upper and lower horizontal guideways 44'4 and 446. Clamp 492 includes a handle 494 that is pivoted at 496 -to the column 478 and that has an offset crank part 498 with a center .at Still. This offset crank part is suitably attached to a rod 502 extending the length ot the column 470. At the upper end, the rod 502 is .attached to ,an upper L-shaped lever 504 pivoted to the end guide sleeve 472 at `586. Lever 504 is provided with :a shoe portion 508 such that when the lever 504 is revolved clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 4, the shoe portion 508 will be forced into engagement with the upper horizontal -guideway 444. Similarly to clamps 476, the sleeve l472 and the shoe portion 508 will, due to the clamping action, maintain the vertical column 476` stationary at the upper end relative to the horizontal guideway 444. In the same way, the rod 502 is pivotally attached at the lower end to a lower L-shaped lever 510 pivoted at 512 to .the end guide sleeve 474 and `formed with a shoe portion 514 engageable with lower horizontal :guideway 446.

To release the clamp 492, the handle 494 is moved downwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 4a, to so maneuver the rod 502 that the clamp action at both ends relative to the .guideways is relieved. When the handle 494 is moved to the illustrated position, the shoe portions 508 and `514 will assume the illustrated clampingy positions. Preferably, the horizontal guideway clamp 492 is arranged so that the crank part 498 is overcenter relative to the line of movement for rod 502 when the handle 494 is in .the locked or clamping position. This renders the clamp 492 self-locking and enables the clamps to be maintained when the handle 494 is released.

The mode of clamping or ailixing one column with respect to the other column is demonstrated in FIGURES f 7 and 8. Both of the vertical columns 464 and 47@ are provided with t-shaped ways 516 extending the length thereof, whereas both horizontal columns 452 and 458 are formed with V-shaped ways SES. Additionally, the V-shaped ways '518 are Iformed with a T-slot 520. These ways 516 and 518 and T-slot 524i coact with a double clamp 522 allorded at each intersection of a horizontal column with a vertical column and thereby securely maintain the relative positions of each set of intersecting columns. The double clamp -2-2 has :a rotatably movable handle 524 formed with a screw portion 526 that is in threaded engagement with a Wedge block v528 engaging one side lor" the V-shaped way 516. Between the handle 524and the opposite side of the V-shaped way 516, a

' slidable wedge block 530 is positioned and appropriately guided with respect to the threaded wedge block 528, such that when the handle 524 is revolved, the threaded connection will cause the two wedge blocks 528 and 534il to move into tight engagement with ythe sides of the V-shaped way '516. In doing this, the wedge blocks 528 and 530 climb the sides of the way 516, and this in turn causes a T portion 532 of the wedge blocks 523 and 530 to i be moved into snug engagement with the sides of the T- slot 528 `(see FIGURE 8). Hence, a double clamping action takes place securing the intersecting columns together simply by maneuvering -a single handle. A spring biased detent 533 holds the handle 524 in the unlocked position shown by the dotted line in FIGURE 8.

The workpiece 28 is held in position on the vertical and horizontal columns by :a series of individual workpiece holders 534 and y535 of a character 'depicted respectively in IFIGURES 4a and 5. As displayed in FIG- URE 4a, the Vhorizontal workpiece holder 534 Ais tted onto the ways 518` of the horizontal column `458 for slidable movement and is clamped in place through the action of a T-bolt 536, threadedly engaged with a handle 538. When the handle is turned, the T-bolt will snugly engage the T-slot 520 in the manner previously described. At the upper part of the horizontal workpiece holder 534, an abutment 540 is `formed Iagainst which the workpiece 28 is placed, and a clamp screw 542 is then turned until the workpiece 28 is in tight engagement with the abutment 540.

The vertical par-t of the workpiece 28 is held in place by one or more of the FIGURE 5 vertical workpiece holders 535. These Vertical workpiece holders 535, of course, may be identical with .those used :for the horizontal part of the workpiece if :a T-slot is also provided in the ways 516. In the absence of a T-slot, two coaotng wedge blocks 546 and 548 may be made adjustable both relative to each other and the ways 516. This enables the block 548, for example, to be loosened and tightened for unclamping and clamping. `As with the horizontal workpiece holders `584, the vertical workpiece holders 535 also have an labutment as that at 550l coacting with a clamp screw 552. f

The movement of the horizontal columns 452 and 458 up and `down is .facilita-ted by a counterweight arrangement shown in FIGURE 2. As there viewed, the upper part of the frame 442 on the left and right sides thereof has installed thereto double pulley sets 554 and 556. Cables 558 each have one end attached to opposite ends of the lower horizontal column 458 and the opposite ends extending around the double pulley sets 554 and 556 and attached to counterweights `560. Similarly, cables 562 are attached at opposite ends to the upper horizontal column 452 and counterweights 564 and extend around double pulley sets `554 and 556. The weights of the counterweights are selected so thatthe horizontal columns 452 and 458 are easily maneuvered, particularly upwardly and so that the eiort required to overcome the weights in moving the horizontal columns 452 and 458 downwardly is not excessive.

When moving the horizontal columns 452 and 458 up and down, it is necessary that parallel alignment thereof be maintained, and also that each end of the horizontal columns 452 and l458 be normal to the adjacent guideway. Otherwise, when maneuvering either of the horizontal columns 452er 458y up and down, tilting could occur and this makes it not only ditlicult to move the horizontal columns but also induces inaccuracies into the support alignment. For this purpose, an aligning arrangement is provided comprising a Idouble pulley 566 (see [FIGURE 4) revolvably supported at each end of the horizontal columns 452 and 458. These pulleys 566 coact through wires to maintain the desired alignment.

To understand this more clearly, reference is made to FIGURE 2 and as shown, a wire 568 is attached .at one end to the lower right part of the frame 442 at 570 and entends around the pulleys 566 at each end of the lower horizontal column 458, and then upwardly to a point on the frame 442 in the vicinity of the left end of the upper horizontal column 452 where the opposite end of the cable 568 is attached at 572. A second wire 574 has one end attached at 576 to the frame 442, this point being near the left end of the lower horizontal column 458, is wound around each of the pulleys566 at the opposite ends of the horizontal column I458, and then extends upwardly where it is attached at point 578 to the upper horizontal column 452. A third wire 580 starts at the point 582 iat the upper left part of the frame 442, extends. around the pulleys 566 on each end ofthe upper horizontal column 452 and is attached at 584i to the lower right part of the lower horizontal column 45,8. The fourth wire denoted by the numeral 586 starts at 587, extends around the pulleys 566 on each end of the upper horizontal column 452 and ends atpoint 588 on the lower horizontal column. With this system of wires and pulleys, las the horizontal columns 452 and 453 are maneuvered, `each end thereof is maintained in strict alignment so that there is no titlting or lcocking permitted.

Another aspect of this-workpiece support 441 is the relationship of the cutting tool 26 to the workpiece 2S. The cutting tool 26 preferably has helical flutes so arranged thereon that when cutting tool 26 is performing and is removing material from the workpiece 28, the workpiece 28 is ycaused by the resultant reaction force to snugly engage a housing 589 surrounding the cutting tool 26 (see IFIGURE 3). This engagement eliminates the need for rigid support of the workpiece 2.8 on the side opposite the tool 26.

To aid in accurately positioning the workpiece, graduated scales 590 and 591 are provided in vertical and horizontal directions as viewed in FIGURE 2 and are aixed to the frame 442. so as to be adjacent pointers 592 land 594 movable with the columns.

The described workpiece support 441 by the system of moving the horizontal and vertical columns permits a workpiece 28 to be placed anywhere within the areas defined by these columns; in other words, the workpiece 2S may be placed in a lower right corner of the frame 442, in the middle of the area provided therefor, or at any other part thereof.

'I'he invention is to be limited only by the following claims:

l. M-eans for holding `a workpiece comprising a support, guideways on the support, support members including clamping means for joining the workpiece thereto, the support members being individually slidable on the guideways in transversely diffe-rent directions so as to permit the workpiece to be positioned on any part of the support, and cable and pulley means maintaining one of the support members in predetermined alignment on the guideways therefor during relative movement therebetween.

2. Means for holding a workpiece comprising `a support, angularly related guideways on the support, support members including clamping means for joining the workpiece thereto, the support members being individually slidable on the guideways in transversely different directions so as to permit the workpiece to be positioned on any part of the support, and aligning means maintaining a predetermined relationship between one of the support members and the guideways therefor during relative movement therebetween.

3. Means for holding a workpiece comprising a support, plural sets of Aguideways on the support, each set having the guideways therefor in substantial parallel alignment, one set of guideways being angularly related to the guideways of the other set, support members individually slidable respectively on said one :and said `another set of guideways in transversely different directions so las to permit the workpiece to be positioned on any part of the support, means clamping the Isupport members to each other and to the guideways, aligning means maintaining a predetermined angular relationship between one of the support mem-bers and the guideways therefor during relative movement therebetween, and workpiece clamping elements slidable `on the support members.

4. Means for holding a workpiece comprising 1a support, horizontal and vetrical -guideways on the support, sets of horizontal and 'vert-ical support members respectively slidable on the vertical and horizontal guideways and individually slidable relative to each other, means clamping the support members to each other and to the guideways, `and .aligning means. maintaining a predetermined angular relationship between one of the support members and the guideways therefor during relative movement therebetween.

5. Means for holding a workpiece comprising a sup. port, horizontal and vertical guideways on the support, sets of horizontal and vertical` support members respectively slidable on 'the vertical and horizontal guideways and individually slidable relative to each other, counter weight means for raiding in the movements ofthe set of horizontal support members, workpiece 4clamping elements slidable of the support memberrs, means for clamping both the clamping elements to the support members and the support members of one set to the adjacent support member of the other set, and aligning means maintaining the horizontal set of support members normal to the vertical guideways.

6. yIn apparatus for reproducing with a copying tool a contour on a workpiece from a pattern, the combination of tool and workpiece supports so `arranged as to have relative movement in two mutually transverse paths, the workpiece support having guideways formed thereon, and support members provided with clamping means Ifor joining the workpiece thereto, the support members being individually slidable on the guideways in transversely different directions so as to permit the workpiece to be positioned on any part of the workpiece support.

7. In apparatus for reproducing with `a copying tool a contour on a workpiece from a pattern, the combination of tool land workpiece supports so `arranged as to have relative movement in two mutually transverse paths, the workpiece support having guideways formed thereon, and support members provided with clamping means for joining the workpiece thereto, the support members being individually slidable on the -guideways in transversely different directions so as to permit the workpiece to be positioned in any part of the workpiece support, the workpiece support and the copying tool being so related that the workpiece is held against the tool support during the reproducing operation for support thereof.

8. In apparatus for reproducing with .a copying tool a contour `on a workpiece from a pattern, the combination of tool and workpiece `supports so 'arranged as to have relative movement in two mutually transverse paths, the workpiece support having plural sets of -guidevuays formed thereon, each set having the -guideways thereon in substantial parallel alignment, one set of guideways being angularly related to the guideways of the `other set, support members individually slidable respectively on said one and said another set of guideways in transversely dilerent directions so as to permit the workpiece to be positioned on any part of the workpiece support, means clamping the support members both. to each other and to the guideways, workpiece clamping elements slidable `on the support members, and means maintaining a predetermined angular relationship between one of the support members and the guideways therefor during relative movement therebetween.

9. In apparatus for reproducing with ya. copying tool a contour on la workpiece from a pattern, the combinationof tool and workpiece supports so arranged as to have relative movement in two mutually transverse paths, the workpiece support having horizontal and vertical guideways formed thereon, sets Iof horizontal and vertical support members respectively slidable on the vertical and horizontal fguideways and individually slidable relative to each other, workpiece clamping elements slid-able of the support members, means clamping both the clamping elements to the support members and the support members of `one set to the .adjacent support member `of the other set, yand means maintaining the horizontal set of support members normal to the vertical guideways, the

workpiece support and the copying tool being so related that the workpiece is held against the tool support durling the reproducing operation for support thereof.

10. Means for holding la workpiece comprising a support, guideways on the support, support members including clamping means for joining the workpiece thereto, the support members being individually s-lidable on the guide/ways in transversely 'different directions so `as to permit the workpiece to be positioned on any part of the support, aligning means maintaining .a predetermined `angular relationship between one of the support members and rthe `guideways therefor yduring relative movement therebetween, land means clamping the support members to each other.

11. In apparatus for reproducing with a copying tool a contour on `a workpiece from a pattern, the combination of tool and workpiece supports so arranged .as to have relative movement in two mutually transverse paths, the workpiece support having @guideways formed thereon, support members provided with clamping means for joining ythe workpiece thereto, the support members being individually slidable on the guideways in transversely rdifferent directions so `as to permit the workpiece to be positioned on any part of the workpiece support, `and means clamping the support members to each other.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,073,290 Rogalski Sept. 16, 1913 '1,722,217 Hopkins July 23, 1929 2,188,053 Madsen Ian. 23, 1940 2,768,558 Dubosclar-d fOrct. 30, 1956 2,863,361 Daugherty Dec. 9, 1958 

1. MEANS FOR HOLDING A WORKPIECE COMPRISING A SUPPORT, GUIDEWAYS ON THE SUPPORT, SUPPORT MEMBERS INCLUDING CLAMPING MEANS FOR JOINING THE WORKPIECE THERETO, THE SUPPORT MEMBERS BEING INDIVIDUALLY SLIDABLE ON THE GUIDEWAYS IN TRANSVERSELY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS SO AS TO PERMIT THE WORKPIECE TO BE POSITIONED ON ANY PART OF THE SUPPORT, AND CABLE AND PULLEY MEANS MAINTAINING ONE OF THE SUPPORT MEMBERS IN PREDETERMINED ALIGNMENT ON THE GUIDEWAYS THEREFOR DURING RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN. 